“The most successful mode of killing deer from the first of June to the last of September was to fire-hunt them, which was done in the following manner: The deer would come to the river after dark to eat the moss which grew on the bottom, and collect together about ripples, in groups from three to ten. The hunters would build a fire of yellow pitch pine in the middle of a canoe and station a man in the stern to steer and one or two more in front to fire at the deer. When there were no deer in sight they could push and paddle the canoe along. When they came within sight of the deer the canoe was allowed to float down with the current and the steersman laid it in a position the most advantageous for those who were in the bow with guns. The deer would generally raise their heads and stand looking at the fire until the canoe came within a few yards of them. The hunters could judge by their movements whether they would make a break or stand still until they came near them and fired or not according to the movements of the deer. When the deer attempted to run out of the water where the bank was bluff and steep they would see their own shadows, and thinking it was a dog or wolf would utter a cry and spring back into the water, sometimes coming near enough to the canoe to give the hunters two or three more shots at them. In this manner they would kill from one to four deer in one place. Having dressed and laid out the meat on the shore, they would proceed down the river in search of another group. If the night was favorable from three to ten deer were killed in this manner. On their return they would fish for eels, salmon and other fish and take in their venison as they came along. Their canoes were capable of carrying from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds with safety. With a five-tined spear they would take from twenty to sixty eels and a large quantity of salmon; and in the morning return home with fish and venison sufficient to supply an ordinary family two months.” (Tome 1854: 13-14)